Electric light fixture



3, 1965 R. R. SCHULTZ 3,198,462

ELECTRIC LIGHT FIXTURE Filed May 28, 1962 United States Patent 3,198,452 ELECTRIC LIGHT FIXTURE Russell R. Schultz, Fort Atkinson, Wis., assignor to Thomas Industries Inc, Louisville, Ky, a corpo- V ration of Delaware Filed May 28, 1962, Ser No. 198,985 7 Claims. (til. 248--27) My present invention relates generally to electric light fixtures and more particularly to a fixture construction that facilitates operatively mounting a lamp socket in the fixture housing.

Light fixtures normally comprise a housing or holder and a porcelain light socket mounted therein. Conventional light sockets are formed with an enlarged head portion and an externally threaded axial body portion adapted to receive an internally threaded porcelain collar member or nut. In assembly, the body of the socket is disposed through an opening in the fixture housing, a fiber washer is placed over the body, and the collar is threaded over the body until the housing and washer are secured between the socket head and the collar member. This type of construction has several disadvantages. First, as the collar becomes loose over a period of time, it is dilficult to thread a lamp bulb into the socket and to unthread a bulb from the socket, because the socket tends to rotate with the bulb and relative to the fixture housing. Secondly, since the fixture unit requires a washer and collar member, in addition to the basic housing and socket, the cost of the unit is increased by the cost of such additional parts. Thirdly, the required washer and collar member complicate and render more expensive the assembly of the fixture unit.

The primary object of my present invention is to provide means for effectively securing a porcelain lamp socket against rotation in the housing of a light fixture.

Another object of my present invention is to provide means for elleotively securing the lamp socket against axial displacement relative to the housing.

Still another object of my present invention is to provide securing means, as described, that is integral with the lamp socket and fixture housing, thereby obviating the use of any additional separate parts such as a washer or collar member.

A further object of my present invention is to provide securing means, as described, that is cooperatively arranged in a manner permitting the socket to be mounted simply and quickly in the fixture housing, thus minimizing assembly time and cost.

In accomplishing the aforementioned objects, I arrange alternate land portions and notches about the circumference of a central opening formed in the transverse wall or panel of the fixture housing and provide lock means and resilient means on each of the land portions. Cooperating with this structure is a light socket having a base portion presenting an annular shoulder and an annular forwardly projecting body portion with circumferentially spaced radial ribs. In assembly, the socket body and radial ribs are first inserted through the central opening and notches in the housing panel so as to dispose the socket base shoulder in abutment with the land portions. Then, the light socket is rotated relative to the housing so as to move the radial ribs over the adjacent land portions and into engagement with the lock means and the resilient means. The lock means is operable upon engagement by the radial ribs to prevent rotative displacement of the socket relative to the housing, and the resilicnt means is operable upon engagement by the radial ribs to prevent axial displacement of the socket relative to the housing.

Other objects, advantages, and modifications of my invention will become apparent or be obvious from a consideration of the following description when taken in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational View of the electric light fixture of my present invention, with portions being broken away and shown in section;

FIGURE 2 is a partial bottom plan view of the electric light fixture of FIGURE 1, with the light socket being shown in a locked position;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged view corresponding to the central portion of the electric light fixture of FIGURE 2, with the light socket being shown in an unlocked position;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken substantially along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; and

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken substantially along the line 6-6 of FIG- URE 3, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Referring now to the drawing, there is shown the electric light fixture of my present invention which comprises a canopy, housing or holder, indicated generally by the reference numeral 8, adapted to be mounted in contact with a Iceiling 9 (or wall); and a light bulb socket, indicated generally by the reference numeral 10, adapted to receive a light bulb 11. The housing 8 may be suitably stamped from sheet metal and the socket 10 may be formed of procelajin or an equivalent insulating material.

The fixture housing -8 comprises an upper annular wall portion d2, an axially inwardly tapered intermediate wall portion 13, :a lower annular wall portion 14 that is generally U-shaped in cross-section, and a recessed transverse mounting wall or panel '15. The panel 1-5 has a plurality of circumferentially spaced key-hole openings 16 therein for receiving the heads of screws 17 suspended from an electrical outlet box (not shown) which serves to support the housing 8. The lower wall 14 of the housing 8 is provided with a plurality of lcircum ferentially spaced radially directed tapped openings 17 through which retaining screws (not shown) may be threaded. The cylindrical neck of a glass shade or globe (not shown) is adapted to be received within the confines of the lower wall 14 and to be held in position by the retaining screws in the openings :17 engaging the depressions or annular groove in the neck of the globe.

In the preferred embodiment of my present invention, the transverse panel 15 is formed with a central axial opening 18 having circumferentially spaced arcuate land portions 19 and alternating intermediate notches 20. As shown FIGURES 3 and 5, each land portion 19 is provided with lock means which comprises a pair of lanced tabs 21 formed in each of the land portions 'wi-th circumterenltiallly spaced apart racing ends projecting downwardly :Erom the plane of the panel 15. Each land portion 19 is also formed, intermediate the pair of tabs 21, with resilient means comprising a boss portion 22 that is generally V-shape in oross-section. In addition, as shown in FIGURES 3 and 6, each of the land portions 1-9 at the corners 23 thereof are deformed or bent slightly upwardly. The above described lanced tabs 21, boss portions 22 and deformed corners 23 may all be fabricated in a single stamping operation.

The porcelain light bulb socket 10, which is adapted to cooperate with the fixture housing 8, comprises a base portion 24 presenting an annular segmented radial shoulder 25 and a downwardly projecting annular body portion 26. The outer diameter of the body portion 26 is slightly less than the diameter of the opening 18 in the transverse housing panel 15, while the outer diameter of the base portion 24 adjacent the shoulder 25 is greater than the diameter of the opening 18 so that the shoulder 25 will abut the land portions 19 during and after assembly of the socket and housing 8. The body 26 of the socket 10 has circumferentially spaced radial ribs 27 with upper ends 23 that are axially spaced from the plane of the socket base shoulder 25. The number and circumferential spacing of the ribs 27 correspond to the number and circumferential spacing of the notches it in the panel 35. The socket it) is further provided with a conventional metal screw-threaded sleeve or liner and electrical counectors, indicated generally by the reference numeral 31 In assemblying the light fixture of my present invention, the body portion 26 of the socket it? is inserted downwardly through the opening 18 in the transverse housing panel 15, with the radial ribs 27 being aligned with the notches 20 so as to pass therethrough, until the socket base shoulder abuts the deformed corners 23 of the land portions 19. FIGURES 3 and 6 illustrate the parts in this intermediate stage of assembly. The socket If: is then rotated or twisted in either direction relative to the housing 8 so as to move the ends 28 of the radial ribs 27 along the lower faces of the adjacent land portions 1 over one set of alternate tabs 21 which are depressed toward the plane of the transverse housing panel 15, and. into engagement with the bosses22. As the one sides of the ribs 27 contact the free ends of the other set of alternate tabs 21, the radial ribs 27 assume a position intermediate the facing ends of the tabs 21, as shown in FIG URES 2 and 5, the formerly depressed tabs 21 are permitted to spring back to their normally downwardly projecting position, and the several sets of tabs 21 thereafter serve to prevent rotative displacement of the socket 10 relative to the housing 8. As shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, when the ends 28 of the radial ribs 27 engage the bosses 22, the latter bias the ribs 27 axially downwardly and cause the socket base shoulder 25 to press against the adjacent surfaces of the land portions 19, thereby preventing axial displacement and wobble of the socket 10 relative to the housing 8 and eliminating possible rattle between these parts. Cooperating with the bosses 22 in preventing axial displacement and Wobble of the socket ll relative to the housing 8 are the deformed comers 23 which bias the socket base shoulder 25 axially upwardly and cause the ends 28 of the ribs 27 to press against the bosses 22.

It is to be noted that the socket 10 may be used, without modification, with panels 15 of varying thickness through the simple expedient of modifying the depth of the V of the bosses 22. More specifically, to present bosses 22 of a constant overall thickness, the extent of the projections of the latter beyond the surface of the panel 15 may be increased or decreased inversely as the gauge of the panel is changed. Removal of the socket It for repair or replacement can be efiiected by flattening alternate tabs 21, rotatingthe socket 10 until the radial ribs 27 are aligned with the wall notches 2t and then withdrawing the socket 10 axially from the housing 8.

From the foregoing description of my present invention, it will be apparent that I have provided means for effectively securing a porcelain lamp socket against both rotational and axial displacement relative to a fixture housing. Since the securing means provided is integral with the lamp socket and fixture housing, I have eliminated the use of any additional separate parts such as a washer or collar member. Furthermore, the operative arrangement of my securing means issuch that the socket can be mounted simply and quickly, by inserting the socket and twisting it in the fixture housing, thus minimizing assembly time and cost. In addition, I have arranged the structure of the securing means in a manner permit-.

While I have illustrated preferred forms of my invention, 1 do not intend to be limited thereto, except insofar as the claims are so limited, since certain modifications coming Within the scope of the invention will be suggested to those skilled in the art, particularly in the light of my disclosure.

I claim:

1. In an electrical fixture, the combination of a transverse panel having an opening formed therein with alternate land portions and notches arranged about the circumference thereof, a pair of tabs formed in each of said land portions with circumferentially spaced apart facing ends, a socket having a base portion presenting an annular radial shoulder and an annular body portion projecting axially therefrom, said body portion having circumferentially spaced radial ribs, said body portion and associated radial ribs being insertable through said opening and notches in said panel so as to dispose said socket base shoulder in abutment with said land portions, and said socket being rotatable relative to said panel so as to move said radial ribs over the adjacent land portions into a position intermediate the facing ends of said tabs whereby the latter serve to prevent rotative displacement of said socket relative to said panel.

2. In an electrical fixture, the combination of a transverse panel having an opening formed therein with alternate arcuate land portions and notches arranged in the plane of said panel about the circumference of said opening, a pair of tabs formed in each of said land portions with circumferentially spaced apart facing ends projecting away from the plane of said panel, a socket having a base portion presenting an annular radial shoulder and an annular body portion projecting axially therefrom, said body portion having circumferentially spaced radial ribs with ends axially spaced from the plane of said socket base shoulder, said body portion and associated radial ribs being insertable through said opening and notches in said panel so as to dispose said socket base shoulder in abutment with said land portions, said socket being rotatable relative to said panel so as to move said ends of said radial ribs over the adjacent land portions and one end of each pair of said tabs, and said one end of said tabs initially being urged toward the plane of said panel as said radial ribs move thereover and then springing outwardly as said radial ribs are positioned intermediate the facing ends of said tabs whereby the latter serve to prevent ro'tative displacement of said socket relative to said panel.

3. In an electrical fixture, the combination of a transverse panel having an opening formed therein with alternate arcuate land portions and notches arranged in the plane of said panel about the circumference of said opening, a boss formed in each of said land portions and projecting axially of the plane of said panel, a socket having a base portion presenting an annular radial shoulder and an annular body portion projecting axially therefrom, said body portion having circumferentially spaced radial ribs with ends axially spaced from the plane of said socket base shoulder, said body portion and associated radial ribs being insetable through said opening and notches in said panel so as to dispose said socket base shoulder in abutment With said land portions, said socket being rotatable in either direction relative to said panel so as to move said ends of said radial ribs over the adjacent land portions and into engagement with said bosses, and said bosses urging said radial ribs axially for causing said socket base shoulder to press against said land portions thereby serving to prevent axial displacement of said socket relative to said panel.

4. In an electrical fixture, the combination of a trans verse panel having an opening formed therein with alternate arcuate land portions and notches. arranged in the plane of said panel about the circumference of said opening, a boss formed in each of said land portions and projecting axially of the plane of said panel on one side thereof, the corners of said land portions being deformed so as to project axially of the plane of said panel on the other side thereof, a socket having a base portion presenting an annular radial shoulder and an annular body portion projecting axially therefrom, said body portion having circumferentially spaced radial ribs with ends axially spaced from the plane of said socket base shoulder, said body portion and associated radial ribs being insetable through said opening and notches in said panel so as to dispose said socket base shoulder in abutment with said land portions, said socket being rotatable in either direction relative to said panel so as to move said ends of said radial ribs over the adjacent land portions and into engagement with said bosses, and said bosses urging said radial ribs axially in one direction and said deformed corners of said land portion-s urging said socket base shoulder axially in the other direction thereby serving to prevent axial displacement of said socket relative to said panel.

5. In an electrical fixture, the combination of a transverse panel having an opening formed therein with alternate arcuate land portions and notches arranged about the circumference of said opening, tab means associated With each of said land portions, boss means associated With each of said land portions, a socket having a base portion presenting an annular radial shoulder and an annular body portion projecting axially therefrom, said body portion having circumferentially spaced radial ribs, said body portion and associated radial ribs being insertable through said opening and notches in said panel so as to dispose said socket base shoulder in abutment with said land portions, said socket being rotatable relative to said panel so as to move said radial ribs over the adjacent land portions and into engagement with said tab means and said boss means, said tab means serving to prevent rotative displacement of said socket relative to said panel, and said boss means urging said radial ribs am'ally for causing said socket base shoulder to press against said land portions thereby serving to prevent axial displacement of said socket relative to said panel.

6. In an electrical fixture, the combination of a transverse panel having an opening formed therein with alternate land portions and notches arranged about the circumference thereof, a pair of tabs with axially projecting circumferentially spaced apart facing ends formed in each of said land portions, an axially projecting boss formed in each of said land portions intermediate each pair of said tabs, the corners of said land portions being deformed, a socket having a base portion presenting an annular radial shoulder and an annular body portion projecting axially therefrom, said body portion having circumferentially spaced radial ribs, said body portion and associated radial ribs being insertable through said opening and notches in said panel so as to dispose said socket base shoulder in abutment with said land portions, said socket being rotatable relative to said panel so as to move said radial ribs over the adjacent land portions'and one end of each pair of said tabs into engagement with said bosses in a position intermediate the facing ends of said tabs whereby the latter serve to prevent rotative dis placement of said socket relative to said panel, and said bosses urging said radial ribs axially in one direction and said deformed corners of said land portions urging said socket base shoulder axially in the other direction thereby serving to prevent axial displacement of said socket relative to said panel.

7. In an electrical fixture, the combination of a transverse panel having an opening formed therein with alternate arcuate land portions and notches arranged in the plane of said panel about the circumference of said opening, a pair of tabs formed in each of said land portions with circumferentially spaced apart facing ends projecting axially of the plane of said panel on one side thereof, a boss formed in each of said land portions intermediate each pair of said tabs and projecting axially of the plane of said panel on said one side thereof, the corners of said land portions being deformed so as to project axially of the plane of said panel on the other side thereof, a socket having a base portion presenting an annular radial shoulder and an annular body portion projecting axially therefrom, said body portion having circumferentially spaced radial ribs with ends axially spaced from the plane of said socket base shoulder, said body portion and associated radial ribs being insertable through said opening and notches in said panel so as to dispose said socket base shoulder in abutment with said land portions, said socket being rotatable in either direction relative to said panel so as to move said ends of said radial ribs over the adjacent land portions and one end of each pair of said tabs into engagement with said bosses and thus positioning said radial ribs intermediate the facing ends of said tabs whereby the latter serve to prevent rotative displacement of said socket relative to said panel, and said bosses urging said radial ribs axially in one direction and said deformed corners of said land portions urging said socket base shoulder axially in the other direction thereby serving to prevent axial displacement of said socket relative to said panel.

' References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 789,735 5/05 Hochhausen 339127 1,131,399 3/15 McGinley 248343 2,033,699 6/33 Frech 24827 2,773,973 12/56 Hoard et al 248-27 X CLAUDE 'A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN AN ELECTRICAL FIXTURE, THE COMBINATION OF A TRANSVERSE PANEL HAVING AN OPENING FORMED THEREIN WITH ALTERNATE LAND PORTIONS AND NOTCHES ARRANGED ABOUT THE CIRCUMFERENCE THEREOF, A PAIR OF TABS FORMED IN EACH OF SAID LAND PORTIONS WITH CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED APART FACING ENDS, A SOCKET HAVING A BASE PORTION PRESENTING AN ANNULAR RADIAL SHOULDER AND AN ANNULAR BODY PORTION PROJECTING AXIALLY THEREFROM, SAID BODY PORTION HAVING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED RADIAL RIBS, SAID BODY PORTION AND ASSOCIATED RADIAL RIBS BEING INSERTABLE THROGH SAID OPENING AND NOTCHES IN SAID PANEL SO AS TO DISPOSE SAID SOCKET BASE 